- On June 16, 2008, noted Israeli historian Ilan Pappe
explained "The Israeli Recipe for 2008: Genocide in Gaza, Ethnic
Cleaning in the West Bank." He wrote:
-
- "Not long ago, I claimed that Israel is employing
genocidal policies in the Gaza Strip." After re-thinking this highly-charged
term, he "concluded with even stronger conviction: it is the only
appropriate way to describe what the Israeli army is doing in Gaza"
because of its repeated atrocities now greater than ever.
-
- In his January 3 "Israel's Righteous Fury and Its
Victims in Gaza" article, Pappe updates his outrage:
-
- Once again, "Israel is engulfed....with righteous
fury that translates into destructive policy in the Gaza Strip. This
appalling self-justification for the inhumanity and impunity....is based
first and foremost on sheer lies transmitted with a newspeak reminiscent
of (Nazi Germany). Every half an hour," radio and TV bulletins call
Gaza victims "terrorists and Israel's massive (slaughter) self-defense."
-
- Israel is the righteous victim. Gazan men, women, and
children "a great evil....There are no boundaries to the hypocrisy....It
seems that even the most horrendous crimes, such as the genocide in Gaza,
are treated as discrete events, unconnected to anything (from the past)
and not associated with any ideology or system."
-
- Today, as Israel slaughters Gazans, "world outrage
continues to resonate - on city streets, by solidarity activists, and
by human rights groups globally....By connecting Zionist ideology and
the policies of the past with the present atrocities, we will be able
to provide a clear and logical explanation (to galvanize) public opinion
not only against the present genocidal policies in Gaza, but hopefully
(to) prevent future atrocities."
-
- Most important is to "puncture the balloon of self-righteous
fury that suffocates the Palestinians every time it inflates (and) end
Western immunity to Israel's impunity." Without it, "more people
in Israel (America and everywhere) will see the real nature of (these)
crimes" so their fury will be directed where it belongs.
-
- The Global BDS Movement
-
- The BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions for Palestine)
Movement demands: "Stop the Massacre in Gaza - Boycott Israel Now."
From Occupied Ramallah, it reported on the bloodbath, "far more ruthless
than all its predecessors," the slaughter of innocent civilians,
young children going to and from school, "an act of genocide against
the 1.5 million Palestinians in the occupied coastal strip. Israel seems
intent to mark the end of its 60th (anniversary year) the same way it
established itself - perpetuating massacres against the Palestinian people."
-
- More than ever, the BDS Movement calls on international
civil society to condemn the massacre, join its efforts to end Israel's
impunity, and hold it accountable for its persistent crimes of war and
against humanity.
-
- UN General Assembly President, Miguel D'Escoto Brockman
agrees, and in a recent address before the Assembly said:
-
- "More than twenty years ago we in the United Nations
took the lead from civil society when we agreed that sanctions were required
to provide a nonviolent means of pressuring South Africa to end its violations.
Today, perhaps we....should consider following the lead of a new generation
of civil society, who are calling for a similar campaign of boycott, divestment
and sanctions to pressure Israel to end its violations."
-
- Israeli writer/activist Uri Avnery founded Gush Shalom
("The Peace Bloc") in 1993 "to influence Israeli public
opinion and lead it towards peace and conciliation with the Palestinian
people." He calls the killing and destruction in Gaza "a vicious
folly of a bankrupt government (that) let itself be dragged by adventurous
officers and cheap nationalist demagoguery (into a futile conflict that)
will bring no solution to any problem" - either to Israel or "besieged
Gaza."
-
- He says Israel, not Hamas, broke the truce, and the IDF
followed up with "calculated raids and killings....The war in Gaza
is (Ehud) Barak's elections campaign, a cynical attempt to buy votes with
the blood and suffering" of Gazans.
-
- Israeli Student Protests
-
- The Israeli news web site Ynetnews.com highlighted student
and lecturer protests over Gaza on Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem campuses.
They want an end to "Operation Cast Lead," called Ehud Barak
a "child killer, a murderer, (and) Barak, Barak, how many children
have you murdered today?" under the slogan of "Diplomatic Terror."
At times heated, they waved PLO and red flags denouncing the operation,
and some shouted "In spirit and in blood we will save Palestine....Fascism
lives on." Others held signs saying: "The war belongs to Olmert,
the victims belong to us."
-
- In Jerusalem, at Hebrew University's Mount Scopus, around
200 Arab Israelis and Jews shouted: "Gaza, Gaza, don't despair, we
will put an end to the occupation." At Tel Aviv University, 200 students
gathered outside the campus in Ramat Aviv. Police arrested three demonstrators.
-
- Haaretz reported that they forcefully arrested six protesters
in Tel Aviv at an "unauthorized demonstration" outside the Egyptian
embassy. They waved PLO flags and condemned Israel. One said police attacked
them with clubs, kicked them, and dragged one young woman by her head
and shoulders into a patrol car.
-
- Israeli police launched operation "Daylight"
using 12,000 officers and 2400 volunteers "aimed at keeping all roads
clear." They're to stifle protests and let Israel's slaughter continue
unimpeded.
-
- Gaza Professor Said Abdelwahed explains "What Gaza
is like in the middle of the night:"
-
- "It's totally dark. More than 80% of Gaza City is
covered by utter darkness. One cannot see his finger in the dark! Meantime,
outside, there are drones buzzing overhead, choppers roaming in the sky
(looking for movement, targets, people or vehicles on streets, civilians
to fire at).
-
- Inside, children won't go to bed. They fear nightmares,
bad dreams, bombing, explosions, and what not! The routine sounds of aircraft
have been going on for more than seven days and nights....Bang, continuous
bangs, explosions, other horrible explosions, blasts, flames in the distance.
Kids jump up from beds scared, anxious....they don't know what to do!
-
- They want to hide anywhere, but there's nowhere to go.
It sounds like the bang was under their mattresses. What to do again?
Nothing but wait! How can you convince your child to wait? For what? Next,
one hears ambulance sirens and fire brigades. Thus, one realizes he is
in Gaza and operating a small generator to send messages to the world
in the new year 2009.
-
- I'm okay so far. There were nine air raids in my area
in the last 10 minutes, and we expect the worst to come. In the morning
between 3:00 - 4:00AM they raided 10 times on targets in Gaza City. Plus
the shelling from Israeli navy vessels. They also burnt more than 10
local fishing boats on the spot! They attacked a bridge connecting north
and south and the airport in Rafah. It's getting worse and worse. It seems
that a ground offensive is imminent. I have no electricity or water. I'm
nearly out of diesel. There is no way to go out. We've been inside eight
straight days.
-
- I have minutes to write. Nine F-16s raided Gaza. Artillery
shelled a 30 kilometer strip of cultivated land. More air raids against
mosques, homes, al-Resala newspaper offices. Minutes ago, 11 men praying
were killed in a mosque. No electricity; no water; no life in the city.
Officially (as of Saturday) about 460 killed and over 2300 injured. Mobil
phone is out of order; landlines hardly work. Gaza is a city of ghosts.
Ground offensive is on the move (with pre- announcment reports) of tanks
and bulldozers."
-
- Israeli Human Rights Groups Protest
-
- On January 1, B'Tselem announced that Israeli human rights
groups launched a blog to provide updates on the Gaza fighting, especially
the targeting of civilians. A statement read:
-
- "B'Tselem reiterates its demand that all parties
to the hostilities prevent harm to civilians. The rules of war (under
international law) obligate all parties to a conflict to do their utmost
to defend the civilian population. Deliberate targeting of civilians
is expressly prohibited."
-
- Since attacks began on December 27, Israeli forces unleashed
terror bombings deliberately targeting civilians, including young children
going to and from school. Support from Washington was one-sided with
House Speaker Pelosi saying: "When Israel is attacked, the United
States must continue to stand strongly with its friend and democratic
ally." Not said is when Palestinians are attacked, America "stands
strongly" with the aggressor.
-
- B'Tselem protested in web site comments to Attorney General
Menachem Mazuz. It denounced the bombing of dozens of houses, public
buildings unrelated to military forces, and other civilian structures.
International law requires that combatants distinguish between military
and civilian targets, and attacking latter ones is a war crime.
-
- The First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions
defines a legitimate military target:
-
- -- it must effectively contribute to military action,
and
-
- -- destroying or neutralizing it must achieve a military
advantage.
-
- Attacking police stations, universities, mosques, factories,
power sources, residential neighborhoods, homes, medical storage sites,
a TV station, fishing boats, civilian vehicles and more complies neither
with the above two conditions. They're war crimes under international
law. Washington knows it. So does Israel and does it anyway - willfully
to achieve maximum intimidation and weaken support for Hamas.
-
- B'Tselem replies: "....statements by Israeli officials
raise the suspicion that the army" isn't distinguishing between civilian
and military targets. Olmert said: "Israel is not at war with the
Palestinian people but with Hamas....the objects (Israel attacks are)
selected with the emphasis on the imperative to prevent harm to innocent
persons."
-
- In a December 30 Washington Post article, IDF spokesperson
Major Avital Liebowitz said: "There are many aspects to Hamas, and
we are trying to hit the whole spectrum, because everything is connected
and everything supports terrorism against Israel." She added that
the IDF widened its target list because Hamas civilian and military activities
are linked. "Anything affiliated with Hamas is a legitimate target,"
she said.
-
- In other words, 1.5 million Gazans - every man, woman
and child even if they're not militarily engaged. A police graduation
ceremony was attacked when 42 recruits were in formation and vulnerable.
Course participants were instructed in first-aid, handling public disturbances,
human rights, public safety, and other procedures for maintaining public
order. Israel calls them "terrorists."
-
- Civilian government offices also were bombed, including
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labor, Construction
and Housing. In response, the IDF announced that "Hamas governmental
infrastructure and members active in the organization" are considered
legitimate targets and were struck.
-
- These are clear civilian targets unrelated to military
ones, and bombing them violates international law. Israel claims striking
them is permissible and consistent with international humanitarian law.
That's untrue. Israel knows it, intentionally does it anyway, and by so
doing commits war crimes.
-
- International law obligates combatants to protect civilian
populations. Targeting them is expressly prohibited. Israel does it anyway.
It conducts terror bombings to weaken popular will and the ability of
Hamas to resist, so far without success. Indications are that Hamas' popularity
has grown since December 27, and many hundreds of Gazans have volunteered
to become fighters. Kill one. Five others join up.
-
- Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) on Attacking Medical
Infrastructure and Personnel
-
- PHR-Israel received six reports of the Israeli Air Force
bombing these sites and personnel working to evacuate the wounded, including:
-
- -- the Ambulance Management and Red Crescent offices
in Gaza City;
-
- -- the Surani Clinic in Shaja'iah;
-
- -- a Palestinian Ministry of Health storage facility
containing medications and medical supplies in the Mal'ab Filasteen district;
-
- -- the Gaza Center for Mental Health's main building
in Gaza City; all psychiatric and psychological services have ceased as
a result;
-
- -- attacks on medical personnel and ambulances; deaths
resulted; Israel falsely claims that Hamas uses Shifaa Hospital medical
equipment for attacks; and
-
- -- residential areas are continually attacked by air
and artillery barrages killing civilians.
-
- PHR-Israel also reports that hospitals aren't able to
cope. They're overwhelmed with the injured, have run out of beds, are
way short of supplies, only get 6 - 8 hours of electricity a day at most,
and overusing generators breaks them down at a time no spare parts are
available because of the siege.
-
- The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHR)
-
- Its weekly report ending December 31 called the scale
of Israel's Gaza attack "unprecedented" and proceeded to list
the known toll in lives and property destruction. It also referred to
IDF phone calls and leaflet drops ordering people from homes prior to
bombings, claiming they're legitimate military targets. Given the population
density, this caused great panic and uncertainty because where can these
people go. They're in the street, on rooftops, and in UNRWA schools set
up as temporary shelters, but even they're not safe.
-
- As a result, OCHR said their humanitarian operations
were severely disrupted. One incident involved an IAF missile killing
eight UNRWA students and wounding 19 others in front of its Gaza City
Training Centre. Other strikes damaged 13 UNRWA schools and UNSCO, OCHA
and FAO offices plus a WFP flour storage warehouse.
-
- OCHR reported a lack of cash and shortages of everything
it needs to function - food, fuel, electricity, medical supplies, water
disinfectant materials, as well as working under fear of being targeted.
-
- Ten Israeli Human Rights Groups on the Dire Conditions
in Gaza
-
- On January 1, they issued an urgent appeal and reported
that:
-
- -- Gaza's electrical system is on the verge of collapse;
-
- -- hospitals, water wells and homes are experiencing
long power outages; for up to 20 hours a day or longer because Gaza's
power plant can't get industrial diesel to operate; and
-
- -- the availability of essential-to-life supplies is
denied in violation of an Israeli Supreme Court order.
-
- "This shortage was well known to Israeli security
officials because (they) caused (it) deliberately, beginning October 28,
2007, and we (the human rights organizations) repeatedly warned them of
it." The current conflict exacerbates conditions that continue to
deteriorate by design. Nonetheless, the group sent an urgent appeal to
Israel's Defense Minister "demanding that (the military) stop draining
Gaza of fuel and electricity - and restore fuel supplies to hospitals,
water wells, and other vital humanitarian institutions fully and immediately."
No response was received.
-
- The Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel
on Human Rights Violations and War Crimes in Gaza
-
- It urged the UN Human Rights Council to press the General
Assembly to act under its Resolution 377 ("Uniting for Peace")
authority "with a view towards the imposition of collective measures
against the Israeli government," halt the escalation of deaths, and
take effective steps to restore peace.
-
- Along with other Israeli human rights organizations,
it also demanded the emergency evacuation of wounded Palestinians so they
can receive vital lifesaving treatment in Israel. Advanced medical care
there "is the only way to save lives" that otherwise will be
lost. With rare exceptions, Israel is unresponsive. As a result, large
numbers of "clinically" wounded have little chance to survive.
-
- The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) Demands
An Immediate End to Civilian Attacks
-
- "In light of reports on the heavy toll taken on
(Gazan) civilians who were not involved in the conflict, including children
and women, the IDF's statement that 'the civilian population is not the
target' is not sufficient." It's also untrue. "The ongoing,
unlawful attacks on the civilian population" have no legal or moral
justification and must stop.
-
- Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) On A "Not So Happy
Hanukah"
-
- Instead of joy at this time of year, RHR reflects on
a "dark world. Today, the world feels dark with hundreds of people
dying and many more being injured in Gaza." RHR calls for an end
to the fighting and for both sides to stop harming civilians at a time
of "The madness of dreaming for a better world" and so few prospects
of it in sight. RHR's statement is welcome, but it's far too weak to be
effective.
-
- The Arab Association for Human Rights (HRA) Condemnation
of Israel's Lawless Bombardment of Civilians
-
- "The large number of dead and wounded and the timing
of the bombardment clearly indicate that civilians (including police
sites) were targeted with the aim of inflicting the largest number of
casualties; this is a grave breach of (Article 147) of the Fourth Geneva
and therefore a War Crime."
-
- The ongoing siege, collective punishment, and destruction
of civilian facilities (including mosques, educational and medical sites)
"constitutes another crime against" 1.5 million Gazans "who
are living in an atmosphere of continued terror and intimidation."
-
- HRA also condemns world silence in spite of repeated
calls for help. "This silence was tantamount to a green light for
Israel to escalate its siege, topped with the barbaric bombardment of
the Gaza Strip and its people," including willfully against civilians.
-
- Amnesty International USA (AI)
-
- Often reluctant to confront the powerful, AI this time
is outspoken, if imperfect, in these comments:
-
- "The US government cannot continue this lop-sided
blame on Hamas for the crisis. Ask Secretary Rice to urgently express
deep concern about Israel's disproportional response and its policies
which have brought the Gaza Strip to the brink of humanitarian disaster.
-
- Civilians in Gaza, already trapped in disgraceful humanitarian
conditions, are victims of Israeli air strikes and attacks. Israeli blockades
of humanitarian supplies continue to deny Palestinians the food and medical
supplies they desperately need."
-
- Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
-
- Their January 2 email announced weekend protests across
Canada - in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Windsor, Winnepeg and Vancouver,
and very likely other cities will have their own. Israel ignited the
world with virtually every corner resonating fury.
-
- James Petras on Gaza
-
- In his latest article, "The Politics of An Israeli
Extermination Campaign," Petras explains that Israel "sealed
off all access to Gaza and declared it a military, free fire zone, (targeting)
the entire population" in gross violation of international laws it
disdains and repeatedly violates.
-
- Petras quotes Israeli military officials saying "...we
are trying to hit the whole spectrum (Hamas' 'vast support network'),
because everything is connected and everything supports terrorism against
Israel." A top secret police official said: "Hamas civilian
infrastructure is a very sensitive target," and as Petras explains:
What Israeli officials and IDF call Hamas "is the entire social
service network, the entire government and the vast majority of economic
activity, embracing almost the entire 1.5 million imprisoned residents
of Gaza,(everyone)" now more than ever united under Hamas against
Israel, the West, America, and complicit Arab leaders who abandoned them
for their own political self interest.
-
- All the more reason for Petras to quote an IDF spokesman
saying: "Hamas has used ostensibly civilian operations as a cover
for military activities. Anything affiliated with Hamas is a legitimate
target," including women, men in mosques praying, and young children
going and coming from school.
-
- Michel Chossudovsky on "Operation Cast Lead"
-
- Chossudovsky calls it "part of a broader military-intelligence
agenda first formulated by the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
in 2001." It aims to produce a "planned humanitarian disaster."
Military targets are secondary. The main goal is inflicting mass civilian
casualties and terror - to weaken resistance, increase control, and encourage
emigration.
-
- "Key events" preceded the Gaza attack:
-
- -- assassinating Yasser Arafat in November 2004 (see
January 3, 2007 article - http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php? context=va&aid=4309
-
- -- "disengaging" from Gaza; resettling Jews
in the West Bank under the pretense of Washington's "Road Map"
and turning Gaza into a "concentration camp;"
-
- -- building the Separation Wall that the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled illegal in July 2004 and called for its
dismantling; it's now nearly completed on seized Palestinian land; and
-
- -- the preordained 2006 Hamas election made possible
by Arafat's death; in January 1995, the State Department declared it a
Foreign Terrorist Organization; with that for cover, Israel planned West
Bank "cantonization."
-
- The January 3 ground attack aims to implement the 2001
"Operation Justified Vengeance" known as the(Meir) "Dagan
Plan" after retired general and current Mossad head; its goal is
"destroying the infrastructure of the Palestinian leadership and
collecting weaponry (of) various Palestinian forces and expelling or killing
its military leadership" - in other words, rendering all Gaza opposition
impotent, maintaining a docile Fatah in the West Bank, and possibly in
collaboration with Washington "triggering a wider war."
-
- Protests by US Human Rights Groups and Activists
-
- Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights lists upcoming
protests and events about Gaza on its web site - in America and globally
along with reports on and opinions about the ongoing conflict. Currently
it features "Obama's deadly silence, The real goal of the slaughter
in Gaza, Is the UN complicit in Israel's massacre in Gaza?" (by its
false civilian casualty reports and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's failure
to denounce Israel's war crimes), and much more.
-
- United for Peace and Justice demands "Action to
Protest Israeli Attack on Gaza." It urges people to get engaged,
join with others, protest to the White House, the State Department, members
of Congress, the local media, and organize or join local protests. The
greater the national groundswell the stronger the message to Tel Aviv
and Washington that world opinion condemns them. But it's not enough to
stop them.
-
- The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation is on this
as well. It's unequivocal in saying: "Make no mistake about it -
Israel's war and siege on the Gaza Strip would not be possible without
the jets, helicopters, ships, missiles, and fuel provided by the United
States" plus billions of dollars in annual aid and whatever else
Israel requests for war, occupation and expanding its illegal settlements.
-
- The Campaign maintains a list of US protests nationwide
(under "Emergency Gaza Protest/Vigil/March). So far over 100 have
been held in about 65 cities in at least 30 states and more are being
planned. It urges everyone "to continue to organize protests in
your community" and spread the word to others.
-
- American Zionist Collaborators with Israeli Aggression
and War Crimes
-
- The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish
Organizations (PMAJO) is "the central coordinating body for American
Jewry, representing 50 national Jewish (organizations, including AIPAC)
across" the country.
-
- Its purpose is to:
-
- -- "strengthen and foster the special US - Israeli
relationship;
-
- -- ensure that Israel's interests (come first for) policy
makers" and US public opinion;" and
-
- -- "address critical foreign policy issues that
impact (Israel and) the American Jewish community."
-
- On December 27, it voiced strong support for Israel "and
its decision to defend its people against terrorism through the"
terror bombing of Gaza. "The government and people of Israel have
shown unprecedented restraint in the face of unyielding attacks with
missiles and mortars fired on civilian targets by Hamas and other terrorist
organizations" whose clear goal "is the destruction of Israel....We
hold Hamas responsible for breaking the ceasefire and for the renewal
of violence." PMAJO urges Israel and America to take all measures
against Hamas - regardless of the human toll, the rule of law, world public
opinion, and other quaint and old- fashioned ways of thinking.
-
- The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA - founded in
1897) "is the only organization that documents and exposes Palestinian
Arab violations of the Road Map plan (and) leads efforts on behalf of
American victims of Palestinian Arab terrorism." It says it's "Always
on the front lines of pro-Israeli activism" even at the expense of
human rights and equal justice for Arabs as well as peace and conciliation
in the Middle East.
-
- On December 31, it, too, voiced strong support for Israel's
military attack and for the Bush administration's support. As expected,
it cited "Hamas' culpability as an aggressor and terrorist organization"
and for ending the ceasefire in November. It falsely accused it of firing
rockets throughout the truce period and now "has shown its true colors"
by stepping up violence and "refus(ing) to recognize Israel's right
to exist."
-
- It supports Israel's right "to make a sustained
assault on the Hamas infrastructure and reoccupy at least certain parts
of Gaza, at least in the short to medium term." It "trust(s)
the Administration will" continue to support Israel in its effort,
regardless of the cost in human lives that, of course, means Arab ones.
Before the January 3 invasion, only four Jewish ones were lost. Fighting
on the ground will likely produce many more on both sides, mostly affecting
Gazans.
-
- "Israel's Policy Is Perfectly Proportionate"
- Alan Dershowitz
-
- Harvard Law professor Dershowitz defends the indefensible
as a notorious pro-Israeli flack. He contends that the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) applies to the rest of the world, not Israel. He
calls their justices bigots and shameless mouthpieces for their governments.
He opposes the death penalty but supports targeted assassinations, mass
slaughter of civilians and torture. He twists legal meanings to defend
Israel and America's imperial agenda. He teaches this ideology to his
students.
-
- In a January 2 Wall Street Journal op-ed, Dershowitz
is vintage Dershowitz saying "Hamas are the real criminals in this
conflict, Israel's actions in Gaza are justified under international law,
and Israel should be commended for its self-defense against terrorism."
-
- In reinterpreting international law, he cites Article
51 of the UN Charter and justifies it on the grounds of "proportionality."
It authorizes self-defense, never preemptive aggression of the kind Israel
repeatedly unleashed since its "War of Independence" slaughtered
and displaced 800,000 Palestinians from their homes and land and established
the Jewish State.
-
- Dershowitz accuses Hamas of the usual charges of terrorism,
rocket firings, deliberately targeting civilians, using human shields
for protection, and seeking Israel's destruction. "Despicable tactics"
he says plus "the claim that Israel violated the principle of proportionality
- by killing more Hamas terrorists than the number of Israeli civilians
by Hamas rockets - is absurd."
-
- Then a Dershowitz-style international law lesson - the
kind he teaches in class:
-
- "First, there is no legal equivalence between the
deliberate killing of innocent civilians and the deliberate killing of
Hamas combatants (never mind that most so-called "combatants"
are civilian men, woman and children unconnected to Hamas resistance
fighters). Under the laws of war, any number of combatants can be killed
to prevent the killing of even one innocent civilian" - but no civilians
called combatants. International laws protect them, and violations are
war crimes that Dershowitz calls permissible.
-
- "Second, proportionality is not measured by the
number of civilians actually killed, but rather by the risk posed. Under
international law, Israel is not required to allow Hamas to play Russian
roulette with its childrens' lives."
- As Dershowitz knows, Hamas never preemptively attacks
anyone and only responds in self-defense when attacked as international
law allows. It's conciliatory, seeks peace, and clearly states its willingness
to recognize Israel in return for a Palestinian state inside pre-1967
borders - a mere 22% of its original homeland.
-
- Dershowitz won't mention this or admit to 41 years of
an oppressive occupation, Israel's disdain for international law, its
Basic Law protections for Jews only, its Arab citizens treated like criminals,
a fifth column, and that torture is official policy. Instead he says "Israel
is acting in self-defense and out of military necessity - the conflict
will continue." So will the slaughter of civilian men, woman, and
children Dershowitz calls "terrorists."
-
- Finkelstein on Dershowitz
-
- Norman Finkelstein nailed him in the title of his 2005
book, "Beyond Chutzpah," in which he deconstructs his mendacity
and plagiarism in his 2003 book, "The Case for Israel." He's
also an
- apologist for its most outrageous crimes, and "in
recent years has used the 'war on terrorism' as a springboard for a full
frontal assault on" international law.
-
- According to Dershowitz, "international law, and
those who administer it, must understand that the old rules" no longer
apply against a ruthless and fanatical foe, and that "the laws of
war and the rules of morality must adapt to these (new) realities."
That includes preemptive war, torture, targeted killings, and all else
in the name of national security.
-
- For Finkelstein, Dershowitz invokes the notion that "no
one law governs all things. (Thus) preventive war might be illegitimate
for all other States (but) it remains a legitimate option for Israel"
- because the UN is biased against it. "Accordingly, unlike all other
States, Israel cannot be held accountable to international law or, put
otherwise, international law might apply to everyone else but (not) to
Israel." Presumably not to America either as Dershowitz supported
the Iraq and Afghan wars, a preemptive one on Iran if planned, the use
of torture, targeted assassinations, and Washington's "war on terror."
-
- Finkelstein sums him up this way:
-
- "After all the hard-won gains of civilization, who
would want to live in a world that once again legally sanctioned torture,
collective punishment, assassinations and mass murder? As Dershowitz
descends into barbarism, (it's to be hoped) that few seem inclined to
join him."
-
- Francis Boyle on Dershowitz and Like-Minded Law Professors
at "Harvard's Gitmo Kangaroo Law School - The School for Torturers"
-
- University of Illinois law professor and international
law expert Francis Boyle holds five Harvard Law professors culpable. He
names them, and Dershowitz makes the list. He calls him "infamous
(and) a self-incriminating war criminal."
|